NSW scores low in green stakes
Stats show New South Wales is under-achieving in the field of renewable energy.
NSW has the highest greenhouse gas emissions in the country and no renewable energy target.
The Clean Energy Council has listed New South Wales at the bottom of the states for renewable energy production.
Just 6 per cent of NSW power comes from wind, solar and water, while Tasmania for example uses 95 per cent renewables.
New South Wales, the ACT and NT are the only jurisdictions with Solar PV panel penetration under 10 per cent.
Energy Minister Anthony Roberts was asked about the poor standing on the weekend, and said he does not think a renewable target is necessary.
“We don't need a renewable energy target, we are committed with almost $13 billion worth of renewable projects and we are attracting more,” he told ABC reporters.
He may be right, with a number of new renewable energy projects currently underway.
The $2 billion Nyngan Solar Plant joint venture between the Commonwealth, AGL and the NSW Government and will soon come online to provide 102 megawatts of power.
AGL is also building a 53-megawatt solar plant at Broken Hill.
But this push may be driven more by AGL’s policies than by any government initiative.
AGL plans to close its existing coal-fired power stations by 2050, and is digging into renewable options to provide future capacity.
The Greens argue that the energy industry is moving towards renewable more willingly than the State Government.
“In wind alone there are over $10 billion worth of investment projects ready to go,” Greens MP Jamie Parker told the ABC.
“But the Government is holding that investment back by having guidelines, particularly around wind farms that are working against installing wind farms in NSW.”